small diesel generator [RE-wrenches]

Wed Jun 16 08:48:29 PDT 2004

-----------------------------------------------------------
Apply now for a No-Annual-Fee Discover® Platinum Card 
0% Intro APR*, No Annual Fee, Up to 2% Cashback Bonus® 
award* Start Saving Today – APPLY NOW! It's fast, easy and 
secure. 
http://click.topica.com/caaciqQbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/Discover Card
-----------------------------------------------------------

The weakness of a DC producing generator is that, in the case of an inverter failure, you have no backup power source. The Fischer Panda is a nice, but very expensive set primarily designed for yachts and small commercial vessels, so is quite compact and not, in my view, designed for easy service access. Unless they've changed in the last couple years.

Lister/Petter and Deutz both make excellent small (7.5 kW) sets designed for commercial/industrial applications that run @ 1800 RPM, a speed that extends engine life and lacks the frenetic, highway-like noise produced by high RPM units. Any differences in relative efficiency should be easily made-up for in longevity and reliability as compared to DC sets. 

Matt T

> 
> From: "Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services" <tom at ecs-solar.com>
> Date: 2004/06/16 Wed PM 01:35:17 GMT
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: small diesel generator [RE-wrenches]
> 
>  
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Give Your Team Access to Their PCs from Anywhere. Increase 
> productivity with a secure remote-access solution from 
> GoToMyPC Pro. Stay in touch with your office. FREE TRIAL:
> http://click.topica.com/caaciqXbz8QcsbadqCja/ExpertCity
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> The weaknesses of an AC generator are noise and inefficiency when running
> small loads for a long period of time.  Theproblems that this presents is
> that most battery chargers and AC generators are extremely inefficient.
> These smaller, lighter, often portable DC generators use Honda Yanmar or
> Kubota engines.  The attachment is directly from the advanced DC generator
> to the wires of the battery bank leading to the inverter.  The DC generators
> are typically twice as fuel efficient as AC generators and allow you to run
> it when it is convenient for you.  There are no battery chargers (typically
> 65% efficient) or power supplies involved in the process.  This provides
> direct current at the chosen DC voltage direct to the battery bank AND the
> inverter, whenever the solar power is insufficient.
> 
> An AC diesel generator can only recharge the battery storage bank with a
> small charging current and, therefore, has to run a very long time.  Aside
> from this technical handicap, the maximum efficiency of the standard AC
> generator is 55% to 65%.  The AC generator must also run at 1800-rpm or at
> 3600-rpm (60-Hz).  At both RPM the engines do not perform to their maximum
> efficiency.
> 
> Fischer Panda generators use a high tech, high voltage, permanent ceramic
> magnet, synchronous generator that operates at a high frequency (400Hz) that
> is rectified to 12 to 48 volts.  There are no brushes or rotating diodes and
> the efficiency of this AGT diesel generator is rated up to 95%.  The running
> time for the AGT diesel generator will be far less than the time needed by
> other generators.  It might help to know that the noise level of normal
> speech 60 dBA (decibel audio)
> 
> -Gator Tom
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Hugh Piggott" <hugh at scoraigwind.co.uk>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 1:29 AM
> Subject: Re: small diesel generator [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Apply now for a No-Annual-Fee Discover® Platinum Card
> 0% Intro APR*, No Annual Fee, Up to 2% Cashback Bonus®
> award* Start Saving Today - APPLY NOW! It's fast, easy and
> secure.
> http://click.topica.com/caaciqQbz8QcsbAnkvFa/Discover Card
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> At 4:07 PM -0400 15/6/04, Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services wrote:
> >
> >Fischer Panda Advanced DC diesel generators are the smallest, quietest,
> >diesel generators you can purchase.  They are designed to support an
> >alternative energy system with direct DC current to the battery bank of
> your
> >inverter system.
> 
> I don't see much point in generating DC from the engine if you have a
> synching sine wave inverter nowadays.  Makes more sense to run a
> small AC generator straight into the loads (via the inverter) and
> avoid conversions as much as possible.  Get some battery charge at
> the same time using the inverter.  When my battery gets low I don't
> find engine charging very rewarding.  I prefer to use power direct
> off the engine if possible and wait for wind to do a proper battery
> charge.
> -- 
> Hugh
> Scoraig Wind Electric
> http://www.scoraigwind.co.uk/
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Let University of Phoenix make 2004 your year. Evening,
> weekend or FlexNet® classes - over 130 locations. Look
> into our programs and get the degree that gets you going!
> http://click.topica.com/caaciq1bz8QcsbAnkvFf/UOP
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> 
> Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
> 
> List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
> 
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
> 
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
> 
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
> 
> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Save up to 67% on Omaha Steaks + Get 6 FREE Burgers and a 
> FREE Cutlery Set + Cutting Board!
> http://click.topica.com/caaclxSbz8QcsbadqCjf/OmahaSteaks
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> 
> Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read
> 
> List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
> 
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
> 
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
> 
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

-----------------------------------------------------------
Let University of Phoenix make 2004 your year. Evening, 
weekend or FlexNet® classes – over 130 locations. Look 
into our programs and get the degree that gets you going!
http://click.topica.com/caaciq1bz8Qcsbz9JC9f/UOP
-----------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: re-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------